The times, they are a-changin’. That’s especially true at Market on 8th. Opened in 2021, a lot of fanfare met National City’s only food hall for the spark of life it brought to the area. Originally, it emphasized mostly different cuisines from across Asia. After a new owner took over in 2024, the market shifted to mostly Mexican-inspired options, switching out nearly all the previous vendors—including Cafe Alessie for coffee and Coleta for breakfast and brunch.
The cafe and restaurant’s co-owner Diego Marquez says he felt the communal space worked as an incubator for both of his concepts. He’s made a living for years opening restaurants for other people, starting as a teenager at Mariscos Hector in Chula Vista before going to culinary school. Even as a student, he continued to open and manage restaurants across San Diego, including four different Farmer’s Table locations, Cali Breakfast downtown, and Inpasta in Lemon Grove.
“That’s what I’ve done my whole life,” he says. “My passion is food and taking care of people.”
Now he’s doing it for himself. Marquez is moving from Market on 8th to launch the first standalone Café Alessie at 470 15th Street in East Village this June.
“I want to have 10, 15, coffee shops in San Diego,” he explains. Same for Coleta—he’d love to expand the breakfast concept into multiple locations. (He teases yet another concept that’s still in the works at Liberty Station that may launch by the end of the year, but first things first.)
The new Café Alessie will have the same classic and specialized drinks it’s known for, like matcha and lattes made with lavender, honey cinnamon, banana nut, and toasted coconut with honey cold cream. Marquez says he’s working on adding some new breakfast sandwiches, which he didn’t have enough room to offer before.
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
- Sorrento Valley isn’t exactly ground zero for San Diego’s restaurant scene, but it’s been slowly evolving—from the classic hidden gem WineSellar & Brasserie to Gravity Heights, Park Commons, and Punjabi Tandoor. Now the bioscience-centric area is getting another: Treehouse, a 9,300-square-foot, light-filled space with two concepts from executive chef Enrique Guzman—who spent two years at French Laundry (chef de partie), some time under Masaharu Morimoto (sous chef) before spending a year as exec chef of Herb & Wood. “Our menu is globally inspired by whatever the best product is in season at the time,” he explains, adding they aim to source as local as possible from farms like Chino Farms and JR Organics. The fast-casual Treehouse menu will have poke bowls, chopped salads, and an ahi tuna burger with pickled veggies and an edamame spread. The Can Do coffee element uses Cafe Moto beans for their espresso bar, plus tea, specialty beverages, breakfast items, and pastries from Pâtisserie Mélanie and Bread & Cie. It’s like a vortex of all of San Diego’s deliciousness, brought under one centrally-located (and hopefully soon, a LEED V4 Gold-Certified) roof.
- North County’s got stars in their eyes—or at least, in their sights, with four new Michelin-recognized restaurants added to the Michelin Guide this week. Lilo in Carlsbad, Atelier Manna in Encinitas, and 24 Suns and Tanner’s Prime Burgers in Oceanside have all opened in the past two years and have managed to snag spots in the guide, a precursor to potential stars. Between that and the countdown for chef Tara Monsod (Animae, Le Coq) for the James Beard Award finals for Best Chef: California, San Diego has some serious superstar power cranking away.
- It’s time for the 14th annual I Love Poke festival at Bali Hai on Tuesday, May 20. Over 20 local chefs will be slinging their freshest fish from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., including Herb & Wood, 8th & B Poke, Matsu, and more. This kickoff to the summer season is one of the hottest events in town (with one of most iconic views, too).
- Of course, it wouldn’t be summer without a trip (or two) to the Del Mar racetrack for their 86th summer racing season. It’s not just races, though—the Del Mar Beer Fest on July 19 is one of the best in the county. Not a beer drinker? Uncorked, its wine counterpart, follows it up on August 2, and Tacos & Tequila keeps the libations flowing on August 9. Tickets for all events are available now, so snag yours ASAP and set yourself up for summer success.
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